Reports

See Audits to search for audits related to State agencies, NYC agencies, local governments, school districts and public authorities.

Budget & Finances, Infrastructure, Transportation

January 2022 —

While the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund was intended to provide a reliable, dedicated stream of funding for the State’s transportation projects, it long ago ceased to serve this purpose and is now largely devoted to repaying past borrowings and supporting current operating costs. As a result, vital highway and bridge projects are at increased risk because the State continues to use these limited resources primarily for purposes other than financing current capital projects.

Public Authorities

January 2022 —

This annual report summarizes the results of all the State agency and public authority audit reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Public Authorities

January 2022 —

This listing includes all final audit reports related to State agency and public authority operations issued during the five-year period from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020, and is a companion to the 2020–2021 Annual Report on Audits.

Health & Welfare

January 2022 —

New York State’s prison population declined by half from March 2008 to March 2021. However, the number of older incarcerated individuals increased marginally over the same period. This report examines the factors contributing to the population change and the medical cost implications.

December 2021 —

A look back at some of the major accomplishments of the Office of the New York State Comptroller in 2021, including achieving a record 33.5% investment return for the State pension fund, protecting the pension fund by divesting from coal and oil sands companies while investing in sustainable and low-carbon opportunities, tracking employment and economic trends while closely monitoring pandemic relief programs, returning $348 million in lost money to rightful owners, and more. 

Budget & Finances, Health & Welfare

December 2021 —

Monthly enrollment in the Medicaid program has grown by about 5 percent per year since January 2007, and exceeded 7 million for the first time in February 2021. This report discusses the factors that have driven growth in Medicaid enrollment and the resulting cost impacts, the relationship between Medicaid enrollment and economic indicators, and the cost implications if the Division of the Budget's anticipated enrollment reductions fail to materialize.

Procurement

December 2021 —

The Office of the State Comptroller received 16,356 contract transactions, including both new contracts and contract amendments, valued at $235 billion in the calendar year 2020. The average time from agency contract submission to final sign-off was 5.8 days.

Economy

November 2021 —

Businesses in New York were more severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 than in the rest of the nation, and the negative impacts on small businesses with less than 500 employees persist. In addition, small businesses report facing new challenges with hiring difficulties and with supply chains. Nevertheless, one in five small businesses reported a return to normal operations in October 2021, there have been significant improvements in several sectors, and applications for new businesses are surging, which bodes well for the economic recovery.

Budget & Finances

November 2021 —

The Office of the State Comptroller prepares this report to enhance public discussion of the State's economy and budget. OSC estimates the State’s tax revenues will grow 22 percent in SFY 2021-22, 4.7 percent SFY 2022-23, and 3.2 percent in SFY 2023-24.

Budget & Finances, Health & Welfare

October 2021 —

Comptroller DiNapoli has launched his new online tool to monitor spending of federal recovery aid and COVID-19 relief programs in the State. The dashboard explains each federal and State program, and how much has been received and spent to date. The data will be updated monthly and New Yorkers can use the tool to understand how federal aid is used and to inform future conversations about budget priorities.

Budget & Finances, Pension & Retirement

September 2021 —

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the New York State and Local Retirement System (the System or NYSLRS) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Budget & Finances

September 2021 —

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State of New York for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Budget & Finances

September 2021 —

State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 will long be remembered for the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and for the resilience demonstrated by New Yorkers in responding to the multitude of challenges.

Infrastructure

September 2021 —

The State has made progress in making high-speed connections available to New Yorkers; nevertheless, there are still significant challenges. Many predominantly rural areas remain underserved. And one in three low-income households does not have access to broadband, which magnifies disparities in access to opportunities. High-speed connections are an imperative not only for economic development, but also for equality of opportunity.

Education

September 2021 —

New York students with disabilities lost partial or full special education services because of school shutdowns and the shift to remote learning during the pandemic, likely exacerbating pre-existing achievement gaps. School districts should prioritize address learning loss for these students in their re-opening plans.

Budget & Finances

September 2021 —

The historic surge in unemployment claims at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly depleted the New York State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, resulting in the State borrowing from the federal government to pay claims. State UI tax rates have already risen to the highest level permissible under law in 2021. Unless the State or federal government takes significant action, federal UI tax rates on employers will also increase in 2022 and beyond.

Fraud & Waste

September 2021 —

The New York State Legislature amended the State Finance Law in 2015 by adding a new Section 8-c, which provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic system to help detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in government spending and to help avoid improper payment of public funds.

August 2021 —

The Office of the New York State Comptroller conducted a series of five audits designed to examine State agencies’ compliance with EO 95 to improve accountability and support continuous improvement of Open Data, increasing its benefits to the public and government entities.

Unclaimed Funds

August 2021 —

State Fiscal Year 2020-21 was another productive year for the Office of Unclaimed Funds, returning $400 million to rightful owners.

Budget & Finances, Transportation

August 2021 —

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the State’s regional transportation authorities by disrupting operations, decreasing ridership, and severely reducing revenues; however, these authorities reported that federal aid helped them weather pandemic deficits. If ridership continues to languish and does not return to pre-pandemic levels, the authorities will need additional revenue from other sources to continue to provide services at current levels—or may be faced with limiting services.